Maip: MPs failed in efforts to improve city

By YVONNE HAIP
WESTERN Highlands politicians have let Mt Hagen down by doing nothing to improve the city’s image, law and order chairman David Maip says.
Responding to recent comments in the media about the increase in petty crimes in the city’s streets and the piling up of rubbish in town, Maip said the issues needed a collective effort to address.
Maip said the Hagen Kona Kai team he was leading was in operation because of funds made available by concerned Western Highlanders.
“The politicians, both past and present, have let the town down. They have done nothing,” he said.
“Proper public toilets and rubbish bins cannot be set up in the city because there is no money but in reality Mt Hagen is better than most towns and cities.”
Maip said verbal commitments made by MPs, including a K50,000 pledge by the provincial government and another K50,000 by Dei MP Puri Ruing had yet to be honoured.
He said Governor Tom Olga and Mt Hagen MP William Duma had made their contributions.
He said although Mt Hagen had been declared the nation’s third city, it had to be commissioned in order to receive funding from the national government.
Maip said work carried out was done with funds from sponsors.
Operations conducted during the festive season in Jiwaka and Western Highlands were made possible by K40,000 given by sponsors.
Provincial police commander Kaiglo Ambane said it could not be denied that the city had a problem with petty crimes and welcomed comments in the media, saying they would “keep us on our toes”. 
Maip said Hagen Kona Kai had withdrawn its vehicle from the police recently because they had allegedly misused it.